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Top Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 7 (Fantasy Football)

Top Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 7 (Fantasy Football)

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We asked our writers to name their top waiver-wire targets at running back and wide receiver for the week. Here’s what they said.

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Who’s your top running back pickup of the week?

Alexander Mattison (MIN)
Mattison has become more than just a handcuff. He has run for over 50 yards in each of his last two games and three out of six games. He has not been much of a factor in the passing game, but 21 carries in the last two games shows his increased involvement as the Vikings remain committed to the run while being careful not to overwork Dalvin Cook this early in the season (Cook has received more than 16 carries just once in his last four games). For the season, Mattison has rushed for 252 yards on 48 carries (5.25 YPA) and a score. His usage means he already has low-end FLEX value during bye week crunches, and there is league-winning upside here if Cook can’t play a full season, something he has yet to do since being drafted in 2017.
– Paul Ghiglieri (@FantasyGhigs)

Alexander Mattison had 14 carries for 63 yards and outpaced starter Dalvin Cook in rushing yardage in Sunday’s Week 6 38-20 win over the Eagles. He did fumble but overall had his best game of the season. Cook has always had trouble staying healthy, making Mattison an elite handcuff. The Vikings are a run-heavy offense which makes owning Mattison even more intriguing. He should be on everyone’s fantasy radar as a stash and must-own for all Dalvin Cook owners.
– Brad Camara (@beerad30)

Darrell Henderson (LAR)
This pickup will only come to fruition if Todd Gurley remains out in Week 7, and even beyond, but Henderson is one snap away from being the starting back in Los Angeles right now. The Rams’ poor performance against the 49ers seems surprising, but ultimately the 49ers’ defense looks to be elite. Luckily, the next two weeks should provide a more favorable opponent for the Rams as they face Atlanta and Cincinnati. It does seem clear that Malcolm Brown is the lead back with Gurley sidelined, but Henderson certainly got a decent workload for how out-of-hand this game got. Henderson received seven carries, compared to Brown’s 11, and the Memphis product also received the lone targets out of the backfield, finishing with two. Henderson was also on the field for 32-percent of plays, which is respectable when Sean McVay is your play-caller. The final reason Henderson deserves to be owned is that Brown carries an injury history, as he finished 2018 on injured reserve. We also cannot forget that Todd Gurley has not been 100-percent since last season. Gurley’s health has been compromised because of arthritis in his right knee, which reportedly would limit his workload in 2019, accompanied with a quad injury to his left leg. That said, Gurley’s absence could easily continue throughout the year which would make Henderson more valuable.
– Garett Thomas (@GarettThomas)

Chase Edmonds (ARI)
Chase Edmonds should be considered in the same group as Alexander Mattison, Latavius Murray, Jaylen Samuels (when healthy) and Malcolm Brown. These are all back-up running backs that can provide fantasy owners production given the right opportunity and circumstances. David Johnson is healthy for now but is dealing with a back issue. Even with Johnson in the field, Edmonds is still getting involved. He finished Week 6 with five carries for 34 yards and two receptions, one of which resulted in a touchdown. If you have space and a good record, Chase Edmonds would make an excellent addition to your roster Week 7 and beyond.
– Andrew Liang (@whenpigskinfly)

Jamaal Williams (GB)
Jamaal Williams had been gaining traction in the Packers’ offense, but he suffered a concussion in Week 4 and he missed Week 5. In Week 6, Aaron Jones had an early fumble and dropped a touchdown pass, so they went with Williams more and he responded with 14 carries for 104 yards. This does not mean Jones is destined to the backup role, but I think it is also clear that this is similar to the 49ers’ offense where both running backs can have fantasy value on any given week. Williams is emerging as a flex play with Jones healthy and if Jones were ever to go down with an injury, Williams may be an elite fantasy option. He should be owned in all leagues at this point.
– Derek Lofland (@DerekLofland)

Who’s your top wide receiver pickup of the week?

Cole Beasley (BUF)
Cole Beasley looks to be a solid PPR option, and even in half-point leagues, he could easily provide low-end flex appeal. In the last four weeks, Beasley has finished with double-digit fantasy points in all but one, and that was against a tough Tennessee defense. The targets are also there for Beasley as he is averaging 7.6 per game. In addition, his team target percentage checks in at 21.2-percent, which is better than Robert Woods, Julio Jones and T.Y. Hilton, while only playing in 65-percent of snaps. Josh Allen is looking for Cole Beasley when he is on the field, and Beasley would make a solid addition to your fantasy team during the BYE weeks and beyond. Don’t expect big things from Beasley, but you can start him with confidence as a consistent flex option for PPR leagues.
– Garett Thomas (@GarettThomas)

Cole Beasley is used as an effective chain mover for the Bills and has been targeted 26 times in his last three games. The Bills have a fantasy-friendly schedule coming up in the next five games, as they face the Dolphins 2x, Redskins, Eagles, and the Browns. He may not have the most upside, but if you need a plug-and-play during the bye week gauntlet, you could do worse than Beasley. With the great schedule coming up, Beasley should continue to post solid numbers and help fantasy owners get through the bye week stretch.
– Brad Camara (@beerad30)

Dante Pettis (SF)
It is really hard to trust any wide receiver on this offense, but Pettis has been quietly emerging the last couple weeks. He scored his first touchdown in Week 3, he had a bye in Week 4, and he almost laid an egg with one reception in Week 5. The issue in that game was that the 49ers were ahead so early that they took the air out of the ball in the second half. In Week 6, he was second on the team in targets with six, and he almost had a touchdown but failed to be able to land his second foot in the field of play. Deebo Samuel suffered a hamstring injury, which would help Pettis if Samuel were unable to go this week. Marquise Goodwin has seen three targets or less in four of their five games this year. Pettis has had at least five targets two of the last three weeks, and he is the receiver that should be able to take advantage of a Washington secondary that has allowed the fifth-most points to fantasy wide receivers. If the bye weeks have you shorthanded this week, you could do worse than rolling the dice on Pettis breaking out on the road against the weak Washington secondary. He is far from any every-week play at this point, but he is trending enough in recent weeks to roll the dice in a week that really does not have a great player to add at the wide receiver position.
– Derek Lofland (@DerekLofland)

Auden Tate (CIN)
Over the past month, Auden Tate has been top-10 in the league among wide receivers with 34 targets. With John Ross on IR, he’s playing over 90% of the snaps on offense, and that should continue even with AJ Green coming back soon. Last Sunday, Tate caught all five catchable targets for 91 yards, and his 18.2 average yards per reception was the fifth-best mark among qualifying wideouts. Over the last three weeks, Tate has put up low-end WR2 numbers while seeing at least one red-zone target in four of the five games he has played. A big, athletic target with outstanding body control on a team that will have to throw a lot, Tate is the perfect add to provide high-upside coverage during the bye weeks.
– Paul Ghiglieri (@FantasyGhigs)

A.J. Brown (TEN)
A.J. Brown is a more of a long-term add, but the time to get him on the roster might be now. He is staring down the barrel of a new starting quarterback in Ryan Tannehill. The change might be what Brown needs to take the next step for the remainder of the fantasy season. The switch to Tannehill isn’t going to make Brown a top-10 WR, but the Titans’ remaining schedule, starting in Week 8, is very good for the rookie receiver. Stash Brown while you still can. Honorable mention goes out to N’Keal Harry. He is expected to start practicing this week and could return Week 9.
– Andrew Liang (@whenpigskinfly)

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